Saturday, April 28, 2012

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Outside the emergency room of the Philippine General
Hospital (PGH), Buddy Padil, 37, silently sat. He is the uncle of Iris
Isaias, 18, who sustained a gunshot wound during the demolition at Silverio compound in Parañaque City on April 23.

A bullet pierced Iris’ calf. “The bullet went through it. The bulet
shattered the area of the bone it hit and the doctor said that they need
to put metal on it,” Padil said.

Iris was first brought to Ospital ng Muntinlupa but the hospital was
not equipped to treat her wounds. She was transferred to the PGH.

“She was only standing outside the compound when she suddenly noticed
that the people were already carrying her, shouting. It was only then
that realized that she was hit,” Padil said, “These days we would
always catch her staring at nothing. She might still be in a state of
shock.”

On April 25, Iris went through an operation. Padil said that Isaias’
father, Danilo, a carpenter, is at a loss as to where they would get
money to pay for the operation. Doctors told them that the metal that
would be placed in Isaias’ left calf costs US$1,465.

The number of residents with gunshot wounds remains undetermined as
documentation is still on going. Iris and the other injured residents
belied earlier claims that the policemen used blank and/or rubber
bullets.

Shooting at bystanders

Also at the PGH was Angelo Lipata, 21. Angelo could hardly hear the
questions asked to him as a bullet is stuck in his left ear drum. He was
told by his doctors to go home for the time being, citing that they
could not operate and remove the bullet until the wound is healed.

During the demolition, Angelo was watching videos of the then ongoing
conflict between the Silverio compound residents who were defending
their homes and the police. The videos had been quickly uploaded on
YouTube by alternative media group Tudla Productions.
After watching them, he decided to go out and see for himself what was
happening outside. He went and stood next to the barricade when the
police began to fire indiscriminately at the residents, who ran for
their lives..... MORE